''The sun smiled gently on the scene'' illustrates

The phrase "The sun smiled gently on the scene" is an example of personification. Personification is a figure of speech in which non-human objects or ideas are given human-like qualities or characteristics. In this case, the sun, which is a non-human object, is given the human-like quality of smiling, which is something only humans can do. By describing the sun as "smiling gently on the scene," the writer is using personification to create a vivid and memorable image in the reader's mind.